Boulder, CO — Earth Science Week 2006 will begin with the first International EarthCache Day from 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday, 8 Oct. 2006, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The public is invited to join the EarthCache team from the Geological Society of America, in association with Groundspeak Inc., the American Geological Institute, and the National Park Service, in celebrating the exciting educational geocaching tool of EarthCaching at this event on the grounds northwest of the Washington Monument.

This event will give participants an opportunity to see how EarthCaches are developed and allow them to speak to EarthCaching officials about ideas for potential EarthCaches. Participants also can learn about the EarthCache Masters pin program and receive their own white EarthCache Masters pin. Additional EarthCache events are being held on the same day in other states and countries. To view the locations for this and other EarthCaching events, please go to www.earthcache.com/. Currently more than 550 EarthCaches are located in 27 countries, and the number is growing rapidly.

Earth Science Week is an annual event held by the American Geological Institute to help the public gain a better understanding and appreciation for the earth sciences and to encourage stewardship of the Earth. This yearís Earth Science Week will be held from 8-14 October. To learn more about Earth Science Week and this event please visit www.earthsciweek.org/.

As well as meeting the EarthCache team, participants will hear from Greg Forbes, the Severe Weather Expert of The Weather Channel, who will speak on the effects of weather on the Washington Monument and other area edifices. Participants will learn about the various rock types that make up the building stones of the nationís monuments.

Speakers will discuss how EarthCaches can be developed. Participants will be encouraged to engage in hands-on activities as well sharing ideas and stories about their geocaching experiences. Travel bugs and geocoins may be exchanged with other participants. Afterward, participants are encouraged to try their hands at finding and logging geocaches and waymarks in the close vicinity.

The American Geological Institute is a nonprofit federation of 44 scientific and professional associations that represent more than 120,000 geologists, geophysicists, and other earth scientists. Founded in 1948, AGI provides information services to geoscientists, serves as a voice of shared interests in our profession, plays a major role in strengthening geoscience education, and strives to increase public awareness of the vital role the geosciences play in mankindís use of resources and interaction with the environment. More information about AGI can be found at www.agiweb.org. The Institute also provides a public-outreach web site, www.earthscienceworld.org.

The Geological Society of America (GSA), founded in 1888, is a scientific society with 20,000 members from academia, government, and industry in more than 85 countries. Through its meetings, publications, and programs, GSA enhances the professional growth of its members and promotes the geosciences in the service of humankind. Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, GSA encourages cooperative research among earth, life, planetary, and social scientists, fosters public dialogue on geoscience issues, and supports all levels of earth science education.